Thursday, March 29, 2012
Escondido, CA

Best in the Desert promised to bring the glory back to the Mint 400 and raise it to a new level. Casey Folks and his team certainly delivered on that promise last weekend. The race, the track, and the experience could not have been better. Western Motorsports is proud to have competed in such a legendary event this year.

Following the Parker 425, Western Motorsports teamed with Kincaid Racing Engines to overhaul both trucks in the six weeks prior to the Mint 400. Enough cannot be said to thank Josh Nelson and Bill Anderhalt for their dedication, long hours, and commitment to perfection that made this undertaking possible.

When the green flag dropped, the 7265 truck driven by Sean Backus and Bryan Lyttle and the 7256 truck driven by Rick Backus and Mark Moffatt started the race 5th and 14th in class, respectively. Both trucks quickly climbed through the ranks and by race mile 31, the 7265 truck was 1st on the road with the 7256 only two spots behind. Corrected time showed Western Motorsports leaving the field behind them. Trouble struck for the 7256 truck after Pit 1, when they experienced two flat tires and were forced to limp into Pit 2 on their left rear rim. The pit crew rallied and quickly had Backus and Moffatt back on the road with a new tire and spare. After leaving Pit 2, they were second on the road, but electrical problems stopped them in their tracks and forced them to call it a day.

Meanwhile Backus and Lyttle were experiencing a much different setback in the 7265 truck; their oil pressure was dropping. After a lengthy stop at the Main Pit, to add fluid and check the truck, they were able to start to the second lap, 6th on the road. They scheduled stops at Pit 1 and 2 with their pit crew and focused on getting to the finish line. The rough track took its toll on the 7265 truck around race mile 80. The shocks were spent and a few miles later the brakes were shot as well.

At the completion of Lap 2, Brett Backus and Rob Fox took over driving duties in the ill handling truck. Backus and Fox were able to make it to Pit 2 before they were forced to stop for some much-needed service. Even with an injured truck, they were making up time on the field. The 7265 truck was 5th on the road as it left the Main Pit for the final lap. Backus and Fox climbed to 3rd on the road and looked set for a podium finish, when less than a ¼-mile from the checkered flag the truck, with worn-out suspension, took a hard kick to the left. They rolled twice, but with the help of a Best in the Desert official, they were able to get the truck back on its wheels. Battered and bruised they crossed the finish line 4th in class out of 27 starters. Of the 325 vehicles to start the race, the 7265 truck was one of 65 to cross the finish line. 2nd in points overall, they are looking forward to the Silver State 300 in May.

Western Motorsports would like to thank their title sponsor, Eleven Western Builders, and General Tire for their continued support. The glory of race day would not be possible without the dedication and support of all our sponsors and team.

Monday, February 6, 2012
Parker, AZ

The 2012 Best in the Desert season took to the dirt this weekend at the Bluewater Resort and Casino Parker “425.”  Western Motorsports was there with their 7256 and 7265 trucks ready for battle and backed by a strong team of sponsors including some new faces from General Tire and We All Ride!

Western Motorsports was scheduled to start from sixteenth and seventeenth position out of over twenty entries in the 7200 class.  A terminal failure in the motor caused the withdrawal of the 7256 truck on the way to the starting line.  The 7265 truck driven by Sean Backus and Bryan Lyttle, left the line at approximately 8:45 am on Saturday morning.  The dust from the 147 vehicles in front of them and no wind to clear it away left the drivers with little visibility on the first lap.  Keeping their cool and biding their time, Backus and Lyttle drove as fast as conditions would allow as they gained track position.  By Pit 1, they had moved up to eighth on the road and into the top three on corrected time.  A short full splash stop at Pit 3 (the track’s midway point) kept the duo gaining ground.  By the end of the first lap the 7265 truck was the fourth 7200 truck on the road and only three minutes behind the leader.  Backus and Lyttle were able to pick up the pace with the assistance of the wind for the last ninety-one miles prior to the driver change.  They pulled into Pit 3 for the driver change on the bumper of the leader and in the hunt for the win. 

A quick driver change and a splash of fuel later, Jeff Horsley and Mark Moffatt were charging ahead.  The 7265 truck was now the second truck on the road and in the lead on corrected time.  Horsley and Moffatt were able to hold onto the position until on the completion of Lap 2, when Al Hogan in the 7226 was able to pass for the lead in the pit.  At the start of the final lap, the 7265 truck was the third on the road approximately three minutes behind the leader.  Horsley and Moffatt did an outstanding job making up time and staying just minutes behind the lead.  They crossed the finish line third in class on the road and the corrected time put the team in second for the day just two minutes off the win. 

Western Motorsports would like to congratulate Collins Motorsports in the 7267 truck on their win and thank all the teams at the Parker 425 for the fantastic competition.  The team is looking forward to a very competitive 2012 season and the General Tire Mint 400 in March.

Western Motorsports would like to thank all of the volunteers who made the trip to Parker and make up our crew for their tireless effort and great work.  Western Motorsports would not be the team that it is without your continued involvement and support. 

As always, Western Motorsports owes a huge debt of gratitude to all of our sponsors including Eleven Western Builders and General Tire for their support.  A race day with no flats made our second place finish possible!

Friday, September 2, 2011
Vegas, NV

Best in the Desert held the 15th “Vegas to Reno” race August 18-20th, which is certified as the “longest off-road race in the United States.”  Western Motorsports was at the starting line ready to push their trucks to the limit.

Sean Backus and co-driver, Bryan Lyttle started the 7203 truck in eleventh position off the line and quickly gained spots.  A transmission problem developed at road marker 25 and slowed the truck to a painful crawl.  Backus and Lyttle were able to limp the truck into pit one where several team members worked quickly to change the transmission and get them back into the race.  They took off from the pit approximately an hour and half behind the field.  At pit three (road marker 98), Backus and Lyttle stopped for a ten gallon fuel splash and a quick fluid check prior to attacking the sixty mile run into pit four.  Fuel issues slowed the team again at road marker 140.  The fuel filter and lines had to be flushed before the team could get the truck fired and into pit 4, costing them another half an hour.  Leaving pit four the team was two hours down, but still in the fight.  Backus and Lyttle got back on the road with high hopes that their mechanical problems were behind them.  At road marker 220, electrical issues surfaced caused a safety concern and ultimately lead the team to load the truck back onto the trailer. 

In the 7256 truck, Martin Christensen and co-driver Tyler Irwin left the starting line in ninth position and shot past the competition to the front of the field.  At pit one, Christensen was second on the road and first by corrected time.  Shortly after leaving the pit, Christensen was able to make the pass to be first on the road and was running away with the race.  By road marker 43, Christensen and Irwin had a fifteen-minute lead on the class and seemed to be setting up for an amazing finish.  Just five miles later, the truck lost oil pressure in the motor and the team was forced to call it a day.
After some initial investigation, it was discovered that changes made in an effort to gain additional horsepower had proven to be fatal.  Investigation will continue is the coming days, as the team regroups and prepares for the Bluewater Desert Challenge in October.

Western Motorsports would like to thank all of the thirty-eight volunteers who made the trip to Vegas and are the backbone of our team.  Your positive attitude and “can do” spirit, even on a tough weekend when things are clearly not going our way, make Western Motorsports the successful team that it is.  The teams flawless execution of the race plan, radio communication, and willingness to do whatever it takes are truly appreciated. 

As always, Western Motorsports owes a huge debt of gratitude to all of our sponsors including Eleven Western Builders and BFGoodrich for their continued support. 

Media Contact: Kristina Snell
760-822-4704
ksnell@westernmotorsports.org

Tuesday, May 3, 2011
North Las Vegas, NV

The racing began at 9:30am on Saturday, April 30, at the Bilek Racing Silver State “300” in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Adjustments had been made and racers were ready for the Best in the Desert’s second truck points race of the 2011 season.

The race began with the 7203 truck, piloted by Sean Backus and co-driver Bryan Lyttle, leaving the starting line in 11th position, just ahead of the 12th position 7256 truck, driven by Martin Christiansen and co-driver Tyler Irwin. By the first pit, at mile marker 60, the 7203 and 7256 had pulled to second and third place, respectively, on the track and first and second based on corrected time.

Backus and Lyttle pulled to the front of the class by the second pit, while Christensen and Irwin had a minor hold up and sat in third place at mile marker 93. By mile marker 134, the 7203 truck was in first place with a five minute lead and at pit four had a seamless driver change to Brett Backus and co-driver Rob Fox. Christensen managed to pass David Caspino in the 7201 truck near mile markers 134 for second place and at the driver change was only five miles behind the 7203 truck. Another flawless driver change left Western Motorsports in an incredible position for two podium finishes. “Our pit crews did an amazing job of getting the trucks fueled, drivers switched, and the trucks back out on the track. Western Motorsports could not wish for a better pit performance than we had this weekend,” declared Fox.

Unfortunately, a second top finish was not in the cards for the 7256 truck and seven miles after the driver switch, Rick Backus and co-driver, Mark Moffatt, experienced a terminal mechanical failure that took them out of the race.

Backus and Fox piloted the 7203 truck to the finish line for the first time in the 2011 season leading the class the whole way. They maintained a three and a half minute lead over the 7201 truck by pit 5 and by pit 6 had increased their lead by two minutes. Shortly after pit 6, the 7203 truck lost third gear and the team was forced to complete the final fifty miles in second gear going under sixty miles an hour. Even with this set back, they claimed the first place finish over two minutes ahead of the second place 7267 truck driven by Travis Bozzano and Ken Cox Jr. and eight minutes ahead of third place, which was claimed by Justin Davis and Jordan Kundert in the 7285 truck.

Western Motorsports would like to thank their title sponsor, Eleven Western Builders, and BFGoodrich for their continued support. SignPros and Dave Smith Painting also deserves a huge “thank you” for the incredible job they did getting the trucks painted and stickered for race day.

Media Contact: Kristina Snell
760-822-4704
ksnell@westernmotorsports.org

Post Race Parker “425”
Parker, Arizona

The Best in the Desert Blue Water Resort & Casino Parker “425” held February 4th - 6th was the kick-off to Western Motorsports’ 2011 race season.  And was it ever a huge weekend…
The weekend started with the debut of the new 7256 truck driven by Rick Backus and Martin Christensen.  Sean and Brett Backus returned to the Best in the Desert series fresh off their third place finish in 2010 with a new number, 7203, and a revamped engine.  Both the 7256 and 7203 trucks arrived ready to race with a brand new black and red paint scheme. 

The 7203 truck piloted by Sean Backus and Bryan Lyttle started in 13th position and quickly gained on the competition.  By mile marker 26, they were third on the road, only a few minutes behind teammate, Martin Christensen.  Near the end of lap one, trouble hit and Backus lost a transmission.  Western Motorsports’ incredible pit crew quickly swapped out the transmission and had Backus and Lyttle back out on the track.  Unfortunately, a finish just was not in the cards for the 7203 truck and within 20 miles, the second transmission was lost.  The Backus brothers were forced to call it a day.  Although it was a rough start for the 7203 truck, Sean Backus is optimistic about the season, stating that, “although the race did not go the way we hoped, we have a more powerful truck this season and are ready for an incredible season!”

Starting in 9th position with Martin Christensen and Tyler Irwin, the 7256 truck had an incredible debut.  By mile marker 26, Christensen had already gained seven positions and was ahead of the pack at mile marker 91.  Even after stopping to swap out a flat tire, Christensen handed the truck over to Rick Backus with a thirteen-minute lead.  Backus, with co-driver Mark Moffatt, started strong and quickly overcame a flat near the section referred to as the rock garden.  A second flat, by the river, left Backus and Moffatt stranded for several minutes.  This hiccup allowed Hogan and Caspino to pass.  A quick look into pre-race tire pressure adjustments to horsepower ratio uncovered an issue causing the tires to go down.  Strong driving quickly had the team in third place by the start of the third lap.  Backus held onto this position throughout the lap finishing third out of nineteen.  After an amazing finish in their debut race and a powerful engine, Backus and Christensen are only a few minor adjustments away from being a force to be reckoned with in the Best in the Desert 2011 season.

Western Motorsports would like to thank their title sponsor, Eleven Western Builders, and BFGoodrich for their continued support.  SignPros and Dave Smith Painting also deserves a huge “thank you” for the incredible job they did getting the trucks painted and stickered for race day.